The wait for the Manta Rays…

Is finally over! And this time, they brought one of their biggest friends, the whale shark! 

It’s that time of the year again, and this means that we have another piece of good news for Coco Bodu Hithi. MANTA RAYS! 

Approximately from December till April, Manta rays visit North Malé atoll as part of their migration around the Maldives. Nearby Coco Bodu Hithi, just 15 minutes away by Dhoni is Rasfari North reef, a cleaning spot that Manta rays frequent for small fish to clean them. If you are lucky, there is a chance to spot these mesmerizing rays while snorkeling at this reef. 

Reef Manta Rays are mostly solitary creatures, coming together only to mate and feed. When feeding, they can form loose aggregations of three, and large aggregations of as many as 150 individuals! When a Manta Ray is feeding, the cephalic lobes which are usually rolled like spirals on either side of their heads are straightened out to help funnel food into their large gaping mouths.

You can even contribute to our citizen science projects and assist our marine biologist by taking pictures to identify Manta rays. To identify a Manta Ray, you need to look at its underside as each individual has a unique pattern of spots on its belly. This ventral view is not only important to identify individuals but it also reveals the sex of the Manta. 

Make sure to book this adventure with Sonia, our Marine Biologist, and have a chat with her to find out more about these mysterious gentle giants.